The Overview of the President’s Plan

January 17, 2013

Address legal barriers in health laws that bar some states from making available information about people who are prohibited from having guns.

Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.

Make sure that federal agencies share relevant information with the background check system.

Direct the attorney general to work with other agencies to review existing laws to make sure they can identify individuals who shouldn't have access to guns.

Direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other research agencies to conduct research into the causes and prevention of gun violence.

Give local communities the opportunity to hire up to 1,000 school resource officers and counselors.

Require federal law enforcement to trace all recovered guns.

Propose regulations that will enable law enforcement to run complete background checks before returning firearms that have been seized.

NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION:

Requiring background checks on all gun sales. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence says 40 percent of gun sales are conducted with no criminal background check, such as at gun shows and by private sellers over the Internet or through classified ads. Obama said there should be exceptions for cases like certain transfers among family members and temporary transfers for hunting purposes.

Reinstating the assault weapons ban. A 10-year ban on high-grade, military-style weapons expired in 2004. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says such a ban might clear the Senate but doubts it could get through the House.